July 19, Colombo: The Indian Coast Guard has arrested 23 Sri Lankan fishermen along with their four boats on Tuesday for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Indian waters.

Indian Coast Guard personnel on patrolling duty have spotted the Sri Lankan boats off the Nizampatnam coast and 130 nautical miles away from the Kakinada coast on Tuesday evening The Hindu reported.

The ICG personnel have seized the boats immediately and took the fishermen to the shore.

The Sri Lankan fishermen have been handed over to the Marine police while the boats and the catch weighing one metric ton of tuna fish were handed over to the Fisheries Department.

Sri Lankan Navy meanwhile said it rescued five Indian fishermen who were in distress in the seas off Nainativu Island on 17th July 2014 and they were handed over to Kayts police for further action.